Bangkok – A Time for Celebrating

By Sandra Scott

Every visit to Bangkok is a wonderful experience, especially since John and I discovered the Peninsula Hotel.  It is a time of celebration.  This time we celebrated our return along with the Peninsula’s 10^th anniversary.

Mr. Khun Somkuan, the hotel’s bar supervisor, created an award-winning 10^th anniversary cocktail befitting the award-winning hotel. The Pen 10^th is a refreshing blend of Peninsula Chardonnay, Ciroc Vodka, brightened by fresh raspberries and blueberries with a sprinkling of rock sugar and decorated with a cascade of red berries.  A beauty to behold! And a refreshing delight for the palate. The hotel’s Thiptara Restaurant, built in the traditional open-air Thai sala style and located directly on Chao Phraya River, always features home-style Thai dishes, but to celebrate the hotel’s Anniversary, they have created a special fixed menu which, of course, John and I just had to try.

At the Thiptara Restaurant, we listened to traditional Thai music, sipped our Pen 10^th cocktail, and enjoyed watching the river where there is always something to see. The long-tail boats conjure up images of James Bond, tugs tow heavily laden barges, and the festively lighted Peninsula ferryboats crisscross the river.  From the celebration menu, I ordered the Thai spicy soup with prawns and lemon grass while John delved into the green mango salad with grilled prawns. John commented on our main course, “This steamed snow fish with spicy lemon sauce is outstanding!”  I agreed!  “I’ll drink to that!” And we did.

After dinner, I suggested, “John, let’s have another Pen 10^th at the pool.” What a way to celebrate! Swimming in the pool under the full moon then relaxing in one of the salas watching the river traffic. We noticed that the dinner cruise boats sported bright lights wishing their beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej a happy 80^th birthday.

An 80^th birthday!  It seemed only fitting that we should celebrate the king’s birthday by visiting the Royal Palace, so the next day we did. The Royal Palace grounds are amazing with the Emerald Buddha Pagoda, golden chedis, statues of mythical creatures, and incredibly beautiful, intricate mosaics decorating nearly every building and statue.

When we returned to the Peninsula, one of the staff asked, “Have you seen our new spa?  It is only one year old and quite beautiful.”  One year old!  Sounded like an anniversary celebration to us so we headed for the spa and an aromatic massage.  There are spas and there are spas but there is only one Peninsula Bangkok ESPA.  It was like entering another dimension.  The music whispered and candles flickered as we were shown to our private salon with a Jacuzzi, steam bath, reclining lounges, and herbal tea.  After tea and enjoying the Jacuzzi, our therapists arrived and our relaxing became total. As if we were not relaxed enough, after the treatment, we went to the relaxation room, put on headphones, listened to the music, gazed out over the pool to the river, and watched nighttime arrive. When the city lights came on we headed to our favorite sala by the pool and continued our celebration by sipping a Pen 10th! I’ll drink to that!

For more information check www.peninsula.com and www.tourismthailand.org.

Sandra Scott is a frequent contributor to travel publications and to Copley News Service and has co-authored two books on local history. She lives in Mexico, NY.
Photos by J. J. Scott.

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